Your first Claude Code prompt

Basic Interaction

• Talk to Claude Code like any other AI assistant
• Enter prompts naturally to request code changes and implementations

File Change Management

• Shift + Tab: Cycle between auto-accept and permission modes
• Auto-accept mode: Automatically approves file edits/creations but still asks permission to run commands
• Permission mode: Requires explicit approval for each change
• Choose whichever mode feels most comfortable for your workflow

Plan Mode

• Access via Shift + Tab menu
• Uses read-only tools to analyze codebase and research implementation
• Asks clarifying questions before proceeding
• Returns a detailed plan before execution
• Best for: Complex multi-step implementations and safe code reviews

Prompt Best Practices

• Be as descriptive as possible when writing prompts
• Include specific requirements and constraints
• Specify design preferences (e. g. , color contrast requirements)
• Use Plan Mode first for complex features to stay informed at each step
• Review Claude's plan before execution to ensure alignment with your vision

Workflow Example

• Enter project directory
• Activate Plan Mode (Shift + Tab)
• Write detailed prompt with all requirements
• Review the generated plan
• Approve execution
• Review final implementation

Takeaways

• Use Plan Mode for complex tasks — Access via Shift + Tab to analyze your codebase and get a detailed plan before execution, keeping you informed at each step

• Choose your permission workflow — Toggle between auto-accept mode (faster, auto-approves edits) and permission mode (safer, requires approval per change) based on your comfort level

• Write detailed, specific prompts — Include requirements, constraints, and design preferences to get better results; vague prompts lead to misaligned implementations

• Review before execution — Always review Claude's plan before approving to ensure it matches your vision and catches potential issues early

• Treat it like a collaborative assistant — Talk naturally, ask clarifying questions, and iterate on suggestions rather than expecting perfect first attempts